The increase could be as much eventual as imminent. The Fare Review Committee’s Report is being finalised and will soon be submitted to the Ministry of Land Transport and Light Rail. In turn, it will be presented to the Ministers’ Council, which will decide whether or not to increase the rate of the quantum. Alan Ganoo said that the Council will consider and decide on this matter very soon. However, he made it clear that the increase will consider the current situation.
“We have no choice. We are penalised,” said the Transport Minister, Alan Ganoo during a review of the Metro Express construction site in Sadally on Thursday 31st March. Bus fares have not been increased since 2013 and during his answers to the press, the Minister has recalled that “the country has faced two increases in fuel prices and like the rest of the world, Mauritius is suffering from the consequences of the Russian-Ukrainian conflict on the Food & Fuel plans. Nevertheless, the population can expect a reasonable increase as the Ministers’ Council will have in mind the difficult situation of Mauritians“.
Currently, both the taximen and illegal taxis are increasing their prices. According to the passengers, the illegal taxis have increased their prices by at least Rs 5 and the normal taxis by Rs 50, depending on the routes. Minister Ganoo has made it clear that “the fares charged by the taxis are guided by the law of the market. The law does not allow the government to regulate their fares. We are aware that they are also facing difficulties but we hope that their increases will also be reasonable”.
